KosherBuzz
New Zealand Shechita Donation Campaign
Our KosherEye Friend, Norman Kabak, Wellington, New Zealand, is asking us to share the following information on how we, in the U.S., can help in the fight to stop the ban on shechita (ritual slaughter) in New Zealand. Norman is a member of the Fundraising Committee, New Zealand Shechita Donation Campaign, and is reaching out to all of us.
Please read this very important plea, share it with your family and friends, and if you can, please help in this important matter – it effects all of us.
New Zealand Shechita Donation Campaign
The fight to stop the ban on shechita!
Yes, we have won a partial victory, now help us win the entire fight. Please give a thought to the Jewish community in New Zealand.
In 1933, Nazi Germany banned Kosher slaughter under the pretext of animal welfare. Now, 77 years later, the same argument was presented by the Minister of Agriculture to justify his decision, making New Zealand the only country in the world to behave in the same way as Nazi Germany.
This decision went against the advice of officials who recommended that shechita be exempted from the animal welfare regulations, as are home killing and hunting. The minister explicitly recognized the effect of his decision on the Jewish community in New Zealand, effectively concluding that there aren't enough of us to be important!.
The Jewish community of New Zealand has filed suit against this regulation in the New Zealand High Court. A partial victory has been achieved because the High Court has signed a provision allowing kosher slaughter of poultry, only. Therefore the fight continues.
There are only about 2,000 Jewish households in New Zealand. Each family belonging to a congregation has been asked to contribute $150 to help cover the cost of the attorney's fees. This is a very sizable sum for many of these households and will not nearly go far enough toward covering the real costs of the case. We ask those who care to fight this indecent ban, to assist us by contributing the cost of one family dinner in a kosher restaurant.
This will not nearly go far enough, and we ask those who care to fight this indecent ban, to assist us by contributing the cost of one family dinner in a kosher restaurant, or whatever you feel you are able to.
This is your fight too!!!!
Eventually, this will become your fight as well if this trend is permitted to continue. Please assist us by helping to defray our legal costs. It would be a Kiddush HaShem!
Arrangements have been made to make a tax deductible contribution in the United States, to assist in paying the legal costs for our case in the High Court regarding the ban on shechita.
Please have all your friends, relatives and acquaintances who wish to make payment in U.S. dollars to send checks, made payable to:
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund-Lincoln Square Synagogue,
Subject line: New Zealand
and mail it to:
Lincoln Square Synagogue
200 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Credit card contributions can be made via the following link, but are not tax deductible outside of New Zealand, and there will be a small charge levied by the processing company in addition to your donation.
The New Zealand Shechita Donation Campaign can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/9KvtEF
By clicking on the above link, people can make a secure credit card payment.
Please, can we ask that you circulate the link to relatives, friends and colleagues far and wide and ask them to help with a donation to assist with our legal fees.